From: "Scott Ingram" <singram at videotron.ca> > > People build on the stuff that went before. Steve should of course be > > safe, but how safe should Disney's works be; the man has been in the > > ground for almost fifty years! > > Is it really hurting you that you can't make Mickey Mouse t-shirts, or > publish your depictions of Minnie Mouse in lewd positions? No not at all. But should I wish to screen a film/video of Steamboat Willie next year (should I ever have the desire to) I won't have to contact the Disney corp for permission. Nor would I have to worry about whether the copy I have is a legitimate reproduction. You wouldn't have been able to make films like Shadow of the Vampire without complex negotiations with the copyright holder. As the rights for Nosferatu had already expired in 1997 they were able to proceed without tracking down who the hell had the current rights to the film. What will hurt is that if the Disney extension goes ahead it will cover ALL material still under copywrite. Film, books, art. If I wish to produce a book on movies of the 1920's and use contemporary photographs I would have to track down,*and* obtain permission from, every single copyright holder of any picture I wished to use. Currently anything screened prior to 1926 is now public domain in the US. Though technically MM has been Public Domain in Australia, New Zealand and Britain since 1978 as our laws only allow 50 years from date of broadcast. The problem is making sure that any works you do publish on them are not available within the US. > The Disney corporation has been working with, promoting, developing, and > becoming identified with, Mickey Mouse for a long long time. I see no good > reason that other businesses should benefit from this hard work to the > detriment of Disney shareholders.... some of whom may be mail-list > members... or the parents of same. (AFAIK, neither I or my parents own > stock in Disney) Not one single member in the current employ of the Disney was involved with the creation of Steamboat Willie. They have not *created* anything of their own. Why should they benefit from something they have not had a hand in the making of? Surely 75 years is plenty of time. Baralier -- Good planning and organisation are just crutches for people who can't handle stress and caffeine. http://members.optushome.com.au/velvetspyder Costumier & Reprobate